Governor Brown Announces Appointments

Maryam Ebke, 57, of Corte Madera, has been appointed deputy executive director at the California Public Utilities Commission, where she has served as assistant chief administrative law judge since 2011 and has held several positions since 1990, including administrative law judge, interim director of the Division of Strategic Planning, public utilities regulatory analyst, interim commissioner advisor, junior utilities engineer and assistant utilities engineer. Ebke was a mechanical engineer at Flack and Kurtz Engineers from 1987 to 1990 and at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP from 1984 to 1987. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $158,004. Ebke is a Democrat.

Sima Patel, 53, of Oakland, has been reappointed to the California Travel and Tourism Commission, where she has served since 2014. Patel has been chief executive officer at Ridgemont Hospitality since 2008. She is a member of the Visit Oakland Board of Directors and the Independent Lodging Industry Association Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Patel is registered without party preference.

John Kelliher, 51, of Temecula, has been appointed to the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Kelliher has been co- founder at Stryder Transportation since 2004 and at Grapeline Wine Tours since 2002. He is a member of the Visit Temecula Valley Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Kelliher is a Republican.

Ernest Wooden Jr., 65, of Agoura Hills, has been appointed to the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Wooden has been president and chief executive officer at the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board since 2013. He was senior managing director and executive vice president at Alagem Capital Group from 2008 to 2009, executive vice president of global brands at the Hilton Hotels Corporation from 2006 to 2008 and senior vice president of Hilton-DoubleTree West Operations from 1999 to 2006. Wooden was Southeastern United States and Caribbean regional vice president at the Promus Hotel Corporation from 1998 to 1999, Florida area vice president at the DoubleTree Hotel Corporation from 1996 to 1997 and a regional director of operations at the Omni Hotels Corporation from 1987 to 1996. He was general manager at Washington D.C. Convention Center Caterers from 1984 to 1986 and vice president and general manager at the Sheraton Poste Inn from 1975 to 1984.Wooden earned a Master of Science in Management degree from Thomas Edison State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Wooden is a Democrat.